Description
Adequate relief of pain is a concern for all members of the health care team; although usually the remit of the chronic pain clinic or acute pain service. The merits of acute (e.g. post operative) pain relief include patient satisfaction, decreased morbidity following early ambulation and a shorter (more economical) hospital stay. Relief of chronic pain permits resumption of daily activities and return to a normal lifestyle. Traditional use of opioids may not provide good pain relief and may be associated with side effects such as respiratory depression and nausea. Since its introduction in 1984, interpleural analgesia1,2 has become an important alternative to be considered in the management of acute and chronic pain, alongside the well documented use of epidurals and patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps. The aim of this article is to highlight the use of a technique which can make a significant contribution to patient care.
